Device for releasing water to prevent freezing



1968 c. H. STRANGE 3,397,711

DEVICE FOR :RELEASING WATER TO PREVENT FREEZING Filed Sept. 20, 1965 FIG.4 2 24 5| I CHARLES STRANGE INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,397,711 DEVICE FOR RELEASING WATER TO PREVENT FREEZING Charles H. Strange, Box 83, Ponte Vedra, Fla. 32082 Filed Sept. 20, 1965, Ser. No. 488,567 2 Claims. (Cl. 137-62) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The invention is a thermostatically controlled valve for mounting on a water faucet for allowing flow of warm water when the ambient temperature is below the freezing point. The valve and thermostat therefor are so constructed that water from the valve will fall onto a temperature sensitive wafer. Wettable fabric on the upper surface of the wafer aids in spreading the water over the wafer.

This invention relates to temperature sensitive valves and more particularly to such valves which are adapted to be connected onto an outside hydrant faucet to permit dripping of water for avoidance of freezing of the faucet when the ambient temperature falls below freezing temperature.

While for purposes of illustration its use on outside hydrants can be readily understood the invention is not so limited and may be used where there is a danger of plumbing or piping system freezing up while a source of water or other liquid at a temperature above its freezing point is connected to the system.

One object of the invention is to provide a valve of this nature which can be easily coupled onto a faucet, spigot or bibcock.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind which prevents unnecessary flow of water.

Another object is to provide a valve of this kind which will be quick closing.

These and other apparent objects are attained in a valve wherein a more or less vertically movable valve head rises to closing position and is actuated by temperature sensitive means.

In the accompanying drawing showing, by way of example two of many possible embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 1 is a cross section of one form of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a plan of the invention as shown in FIG. 1, and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are respectively a side view and plan showing a modification of the invention.

The device, generally designated 10, comprises a manually turned coupling nut 11 for attaching the device to a spigot, faucet or the like preferably one having a downwardly directed spout 12.

The device comprises upper and lower spaced plates or strips 14 and 15 of substantially non-yielding material and held preferably by adjustment bolts 16 at the ends 18 of both strips to secure the strips in a predetermined space relationship.

The upper strip has secured thereon an upwardly projecting barrel 19 rotatably carrying the coupling nut 11 so as to couple the barrel to the spout water-tight in well known manner. The barrel has a transverse seat member 20 secured inside at the upper portion of the barrel, the member being provided with a central opening 21 with a valve seat 22 to receive the conical valve head 24 on a vertically movable stem 25. The stem 25 passes through a large hole 26 in the strip 14 and is actuated vertically by one or more thermostat wafers 28 interposed between the stem and an adjusting screw 29 threaded through the lower strip 15 as at 30.

The wafer 28 is a known commercial article and fre- 3,397,71 l Patented Aug. 20, 1968 quently is formed from two thin brass disks, sealed. at their peripheries and having space between the disks filled with a liquid, such as alcohol, having a high coefficient of thermal expansion.

At a given temperature, adjustment of the screw 29 varies the normal position of the valve head with respect to its seat. If the screw is set for opening of the valve at 32 and the temperature falls below that value, the wafer contracts and lowers the valve head from the seat and permits water under pressure in the spout to flow, and seating of the head prevents flow from the spout when the wafer is warmed sufiicien'tly.

The upper strip 14, being provided with the large passage hole 26 about the stem, permits water from the spout and past the valve head to pass from the barrel onto the wafer 28. This feature of getting the outlet water onto the wafer is important, for there is no need for warm water to continue to pass the valve.

In some localities, such as certain parts of Florida, morning freezing temperatures occur and yet the temperature of water in pipes below the frost line may be appreciably above 50 F. If the valve responds only to variations of ambient air temperature, there might be a large waste of relatively warm water. The valve can be set at a temperature slightly above the freezing point for warm water to prevent icing of the wafer.

Even if icing of the disk should begin to occur, the wafer can continue to contract to some degree and the warm water then flushes the ice from it.

The size of the hole 26 should be large enough to prevent danger of icing with it so as to prevent motion of the stem. Preferably the hole should be provided with a down turned flange 31 to insure that drip of warm water from it will fall on the wafer and not run to the end of the strip where its effect will be lost. This feature is of special advantage when the spout is not vertical, as that of a bibcock. A clearance of about A; in. between the stem 25 and flange 31 is satisfactory in normally warm climates.

In general the device operates to open when the air temperature falls but the closing is largely governed by the temperature of the drip water.

Instead of wafer 28 I may use a bowed strip 32 of brass or even plastic, as material of high coefficient of expansion, secured at each end 34 on a ceramic elongated block 35 as in Patents 2,750,472 and 2,810,044. However -I prefer the use of the wafer as it is more sensitive and presents much more surface in the probable path of the warm water flow.

A thin, absorbent cloth cover or washer 27 may be disposed on the surface of the wafer nearest the flange and secured at its periphery. This cover has two functions, first to soak up and distribute warm water over the surface of the wafer, and second to add to the heat capacity of the wafer and so reduce opening and closing frequency. At times windage may interfere with the falling of the warm Water on the wafer and it would then drain 01f more or less as a single narrow radial stream with little eifect in the absence of the cloth.

In normal operation, especially in warm climates and when rust or fine grit may be in the water it is often better to have intermittent flow of the warm water in larger amounts rather than a more or less steady leakage by, the valve. This reduces danger of valves becoming jammed.

The invention claimed is:

'1. A device for permitting an issue of water from a downwardly directed tap spout comprising, upper and lower parallel spaced strips of stiff material secured in spaced relation by support members; an upwardly projecting neck member fast on the upper strip and adapted to be secured water-tight on the spout, said member being 3 hollow and having valve means including a vertically reciprocatory valve stem therein for selectively permitting a flow of water from the spout into the neck member, said upper strip being provided with a hole therethrough for a passage of water downwardly from the neck portion, a thermostatic wafer mounted on the lower strip between the strips and axially alined with the stern and connected thereto to actuate the latter upon changes of temperature, said strips and support members providing for free circulation of ambient air about said wafer, and a depending flange provided on the upper strip about the hole coaxial with the stem to conduct water from the neck portion on to the central portion of the wafer.

2. A device for releasing a flow of water from a generally downwardly directed spout comprising, a valve member adapted to be secured watertight on the spout and having a valve bole therethrough for water to pass through from the spout, a reciprocatory valve piece having a stem and head for closing the hole, said member having a hollow cylindrical portion surrounding the valve piece and downwardly open to conduct water issuing from the valve hole in a generally downward direction, a thermostatic wafer below the hollow portion secured in predetermined space relationship to the valve member and coaxial with the hollow portion and stem and connected to the valve piece to actuate the latter upon changes of temperature, said hollow portion being small enough and close enough to the wafer so that water from the hollow portion drains onto the wafer, and a layer of wettable fabric on the wafer to distribute water falling from the hollow portion over the wafer.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 632,937 9/1899 Gold 23780 XR 2,229,529 1/1941 Smith 237-80 XR 2,804,758 9/1957 Smith et al. 13762 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 669,978 8/ 1929 France.

372,965 4/ 1923 Germany.

522,648 4/1931 Germany.

WILLIAM 'F. ODEA, Primary Examiner.

R. GERARD, Assistant Examiner. 

